So, how’s your team doing? Intuitively, you probably have an adequate sense of the workplace culture, the degree of trust, and the readiness for growth and change. Perhaps this cursory evaluation gives you all the information you need keep the team moving forward. It would be helpful, however, to know what’s in your blind spot. If you had the opportunity to assess your team objectively, the data might reveal valuable opportunities.
Be clear about what to measure before you undertake a rigorous assessment of your team. It’s not about the ping-pong table or the beanbag chairs in the breakroom. Gather the metrics most likely to enhance the health and wellness of your team. Rate your strength and weakness in the following ten domains:
____ Are our day-to-day interactions productive, efficient, and true to our values?
____ Is our team mission clear and is everyone on-board?
____ Do teammates handle conflict and differences of opinion with maturity?
____ Do teammates connect and collaborate?
____ Is our workplace a trusting and respectful environment?
____ Do teammates hold themselves and each other accountable consistently?
____ Are we supported in sharing new ideas and perspectives?
____ Does the organization support exploration and discovery when solving problems?
____ Are there any unresolved issues keeping the team stuck?
____ How have we handled significant change recently?
Few teams are strong in every category. Building a healthy culture means developing your assets while chipping away at anything that subtracts from excellence. Most often, assessment data like this validates awareness. It removes the bias obscuring your look in the mirror. Now that you know how your team measures up, you can decide what to do about it.
